K-9 Used to Subdue Teen After Attempted Robbery

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with attempted robbery after the youth entered the  Saturday night and, with a bolt cutter, demanded money, the police department reported Monday.

In addition, the Mountain View suspect received a felony vandalism charge for breaking glass and other things inside the store. He has been booked into juvenile hall.

According to  spokeswoman Liz Wylie, the teen entered the 7-Eleven at 1905 Latham St. at 11:52 p.m. Saturday with bolt cutters and approached the 27-year-old male clerk.

The suspect allegedly demanded money and, using the bolt cutter, hit and shattered the glass countertop. The clerk, a Santa Clara resident, ran and locked himself in an office and called 9-1-1.

Wylie explained that the clerk could "hear the suspect breaking things inside the store" and left after about two minutes, video surveillance showed.

Armed with a description of the suspect, the officers found and detained him nearby, according to Wylie. The clerk helped to identify the suspect.

"The suspect was not detained easily," Wylie said. "When two officers simultaneously got out of their car to contact him to see if he was involved, he began shouting obscenities at them while running toward them."

When the teen allegedly refused to stop running toward the officers, "they pointed a Taser, and one of the officers quickly got his dog out from inside the car," Wylie said about the police K-9.

With the dog's barking and repeated orders to stop, the suspect got down on the ground but continued to yell obscenities. The suspect "had to be lifted off the ground, because he refused to stand," Wylie said.

"He then tried to run away while handcuffed."  

As the officers drove the teen to the police department, he allegedly began to hit his head on the plastic partition separation in the patrol car, causing a two-inch cut in his forehead, according to Wylie.

"When the officer tried to open the back door and check on the suspect, he began spitting blood and spit at the officer," said Wylie.

A spit shield mask was placed on the suspect, and his feet were tied with a restraint after he tried to kick open the door, Wylie explained.

After he received stitches from at the hospital, he was booked into juvenile hall.

At the scene, police found the 14-inch bolt cutter in the street, Wylie added.

While the teen did not take anything, he is accused of destroying the two hot dog warmers, the glass countertop and lots of glass jars and bottles, according to Wylie.